New figures released yesterday reveal more than 5,100 emergency food parcels were provided for people every day from April until September this year, on average, by foodbanks in the Trussell Trust network. That’s at least three parcels given every minute and is an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2019, as need for emergency food remains well above pre-pandemic levels.
2019 is a better comparison with 2021 than the equivalent period last year when foodbanks in the Trussell Trust’s network experienced unprecedented increases as the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic drove people to foodbanks. Whilst this year’s figures are lower than those last year, they are higher than in 2019 and up 74% on the same period in 2016.
Over the past six months, North Cotswold Foodbank issued 271 three-day emergency food parcels, feeding a total of 797 people, of which 353 were children. This is less than in the same period in 2020 when we were exceptionally busy, due to the impact of the pandemic. However, the 2021 numbers are broadly similar to the equivalent period in 2019, demonstrating that there is still significant demand for our Foodbank. We are expecting to see an increase in the number of emergency food parcels given out in the second half of the year as more families across our area face a combination of the fallout from the £20 per week cut in Universal Credit payments that hit this autumn, rising fuel costs this winter and soaring inflation.
Kevin Carden, Project Manager for North Cotswold Foodbank, said: “While our help continues to be needed, we’re dedicated to ensuring that people without enough money for food are able to access emergency support. Because we don’t think it’s right that any of us are forced to turn to any charity for emergency food”.
The Trussell Trust warns that the need for emergency food is expected to rise further still this winter as more and more people across the country face destitution – meaning they are unable to afford the absolute essentials to eat, stay warm, dry and clean – and foodbanks face giving out more than 7,000 food parcels every day in December.
Read the full press release here: